Green Party mourns Muhiyyidin d’Baha, Black Lives Matter activist

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Green Party leaders reacted with shock and grief to the news that Muhiyyidin d’Baha, a Black Lives Matter activist, was gunned down in New Orleans on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Mr. d’Baha was co-chair of the Charleston Green Party in South Carolina.

The Green Party of the United States expressed deep sympathy and condolences for Mr. d’Baha’s family and friends.

On Saturday at 10 a.m., friends will gather in Charleston’s Hampton Park at the Denmark Vesey Monument, where Mr. d’Baha often went for inspiration. A video remembrance has been posted on Facebook by Black Collective.

Muhiyyidin d’Baha, who was 32, made national news when he attempted to seize a Confederate battle flag during a protest at the College of Charleston in February, 2017. His action was caught on live TV and video and viewed widely.

He said, “That was the moment for me. We’re not going to pass this on another generation. Not another generation of people are going to be intimidated by this flag.”

Mr. d’Baha said he tried to wrestle the flag from white supremacistsprotesting a speech by Bree Newsome to “help them understand what it is to meet a real resistance, to meet people that aren’t scared.”

The Green Party supports removal of Confederate and racist monuments from public spaces where they function as publicly maintained celebrations of white supremacy.

“I am honored to have had the privilege of knowing Muhiyyidin. He was a gentle and kind man who cared deeply about justice and helping others. I have learned so much from him. Charleston, and the world, has suffered a great loss in his passing,” said Sue Edward, former co-chair of the Charleston Green Party and former co-chair of the South Carolina Green Party.

During a live remembrance of his life on New Abolitionists Radio, South Carolina Green Gregg Jocoy said, “It’s unfair to try to put such a big spirit in a small box, but I mostly knew Muhiyyidin from meeting him at the state Green Party convention. His death is a huge loss to us all.”

Muhiyyidin d’Baha worked to get citizens’ oversight of the North Charleston Police Department after the Walter Scott murder and was arrested for speaking at a North Charleston City Council meeting. He helped with the weekly potluck at Conway Park to feed the homeless and those who otherwise have no food.

Local Green Party members remembered that Mr. d’Baha played African drums and taught drumming to children.

“I am truly sorry to hear about the death of Muhiyyidin d’Baha. My condolences goes to his family. His death has sent shockwaves through the black activist community and the Green Party. He will always be remembered for loving his family, his community, and fighting for social justice,” said Joy Davis, co-chair of the Green Party’s National Women’s Caucus and Black Caucus delegate to the party’s National Committee.

According to The Times-Picayune (New Orleans), “The investigation into the early Tuesday shooting is ongoing, according to the NOPD. As of Tuesday night, police had not named any suspects or motives in the case.”

A GoFundMe page has been posted online by Camille Weaver, Mr. d’Baha’s niece, for donations to cover expense related to transportation of his body to Charleston and funeral and memorial services.

“Muhiyyidin d’Baha saw his mission as revolutionary, though he himself was a gentle, non-violent soul. He liked to say ‘Revolution is treason in the eye of the oppressor,'” said William Kreml of the South Carolina Green Party.